By Valentia Tetteh
The Akwatia Constituency in the Eastern Region, known for its rich diamond deposits in the Denkyembour District, is preparing for a high-stakes parliamentary by-election on 2 September 2025. The contest was triggered by the sudden death of the sitting Member of Parliament, Ernest Yaw Kumi of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), on 7 July 2025.
This by-election has drawn national attention as the NPP’s Solomon Kwame Asumadu goes head-to-head with the National Democratic Congress (NDC) candidate, Bernard Bediako Baidoo. Given Akwatia’s history of swinging between the two major parties, the outcome could serve as a political signal for the months ahead.
Akwatia: a seat that mirrors national politics
Since the return to constitutional rule in 1992, Akwatia has established itself as one of Ghana’s most unpredictable constituencies. The NPP and NDC have alternated victories almost evenly, with the NPP winning four times and the NDC five. Often, the constituency’s choice has reflected broader national voting patterns, making it a political barometer.
The local economy, heavily influenced by diamond mining, has shaped voter priorities over the years. While the NPP has often attracted support with its pro-business stance, the NDC has capitalised on times of economic frustration, making the constituency fiercely contested.
Electoral flashpoints over the years in Akwatia
- 1992: The NDC’s Gilbert Kwasi Agyei entered Parliament unopposed after the NPP boycotted the legislative elections.
- 1996: The NDC consolidated its control when Alhaji Mohammed Erzuah Siam defeated the NPP’s Dr Kwame Kyei Baffour by more than 9,000 votes.
- 2000: The NPP made inroads with Kinston Akomeng Kissi, whose win aligned with John Agyekum Kufuor’s presidential victory.
- 2004: Kissi retained the seat for the NPP in a close contest with Baba Jamal Mohammed Ahmed of the NDC.
- 2008: After a controversial rerun in six polling stations, Baba Jamal edged out the NPP’s Kofi Asare by just 617 votes.
- 2012: Baba Jamal again held the seat, narrowly defeating Kofi Asare by under 300 votes.
- 2016: The NPP’s Mercy Adu-Gyamfi (Ama Sey) handed the party its biggest margin in Akwatia’s history, defeating Baba Jamal by over 5,500 votes.
- 2020: The pendulum swung back to the NDC when Henry Yiadom Boakye narrowly ousted Ernest Yaw Kumi.
- 2024: Kumi reclaimed the seat for the NPP with a margin of 2,063 votes, though the result was challenged in court before being upheld by the Supreme Court.
This back-and-forth has cemented Akwatia’s reputation as a constituency where no party can take victory for granted.
The contenders
The NDC is fielding Bernard Bediako Baidoo, a 40-year-old lawyer and constituency secretary. He won the party’s 4 August 2025 primary with 380 votes, defeating Erasmus Koney Ali and former MP Henry Yiadom Boakye. His prior role as Boakye’s lawyer in the 2024 election petition adds a unique twist to his candidacy.
The NPP has rallied behind Solomon Kwame Asumadu, also 40, a licensed small-scale miner and graduate of All Nations University. He was acclaimed after other hopefuls, including Ama Sey, stepped aside following party consultations. Asumadu has projected himself as the political “Joshua” succeeding Kumi’s “Moses,” confidently predicting a landslide victory.
Campaign momentum
With polling day approaching, both candidates are intensifying their outreach.
The NDC’s campaign is driven by grassroots mobilisation, with Baidoo actively engaging traders, youth groups and opinion leaders. He has received the backing of senior government officials and national executives of the party.
The NPP’s strategy has centred on unity walks, door-to-door interactions and promises of infrastructure development, with Asumadu supported by MPs and party stalwarts.
Security concerns
Given the constituency’s political history, security has become a top priority. The Ghana Police Service has deployed 5,500 officers to Akwatia ahead of the by-election to maintain law and order.
Speaking on GTV’s Current Agenda on Saturday, 30 August 2025, Deputy National Youth Organiser of the NPP, Isaac Jay Hyde, called for calm. He urged all political actors to avoid inflammatory language, stressing that Ghana “has endured too many tragedies to continue on the path of needless hostility.”
Broader significance
The by-election is widely seen as an early referendum on the performance of President John Dramani Mahama’s administration, just seven months into his latest term. For the NPP, the poll is equally crucial, as it will test the party’s ability to stay competitive in opposition.
In Parliament, the NDC currently commands a supermajority with 184 out of 276 seats. The NPP holds 88, with four independents. Two seats remain vacant: Akwatia, and Tamale Central, which became vacant after the death of NDC MP Dr Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed on 6 August 2025. The Electoral Commission has fixed 30 September 2025 for the Tamale Central by-election, which the NPP has announced it will not contest.
All eyes are now on Akwatia as the constituency heads to the polls on Tuesday, 2 September 2025. With its history of nail-biting finishes and national symbolism, the by-election will not only decide who represents the people of Akwatia in Parliament but could also set the tone for the political battles ahead.
